Clinical Psychology

Jean-Philippe Laurenceau

		Associate Professor Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University Research Interests Recent Publications Representative Publications Vitae -pdf file jlaurenceau@psych.udel.edu Office: 218 Wolf Hall (302) 831-2309 (302) 831-3645 -fax Preferred contact method - email

Research Interests

intimacy processes in close relationships; application of daily-diary methods and multilevel models for studying close relationship processes; prevention of relationship dysfunction; assessing change in intervention contexts.

Research Summary:

Being in close relationships is a primal human experience. Indeed, many of the activities and goals most central to humans involve the initiation, development, and maintenance of close relationships.  My primary area of scholarly interest concerns close relationships. This work has two facets: basic research on close relationship processes (e.g., intimacy processes, relational approach/avoidance sensitivities) and applied research on interventions targeting the prevention of the real-world problem of relationship dysfunction.  A secondary area of scholarly interest is in the application of modern quantitative methods for the assessment and analysis of change.  The study of change processes cuts across several areas and is the basis of much empirical psychological inquiry. In sum, I believe that my major interests lie at the intersection of clinical psychology and social/personality psychology.

Close relationship processes 

Throughout my graduate and faculty career in both research and clinical work with close relationship dyads, I have been continually struck by the reciprocal relationship between marital/interpersonal interactions and individual problems/psychopathology.  Developing and maintaining close, confiding, and intimate relationships with significant others has dramatic effects on emotional and physical quality of life. I hold the view that in order to understand dysfunction, we must also understand adaptive functioning and the normative processes that lead to adaptive outcomes. Thus, understanding basic factors that influence relationship processes from a normative and developmental perspective will contribute to improved understanding of how and when such processes go awry.

Researchers in relationship science have argued that the field may profit from the development of models of close relationship functioning that incorporates a diversity of important interpersonal processes and influencing factors.  Thus, I am moving toward a conceptualization of adaptive relationship functioning and maintenance that integrates the role of both negative and positive relationship processes.  Negative processes such as conflict, spousal support in face of stressors, and dysfunctional communication patterns have received much theoretical attention and empirical study.  Nevertheless, when these negative processes are well managed in relationships, that may not necessarily indicate healthy relationship functioning.  In current and forthcoming work, I draw from self-regulation approaches that incorporate goals, behaviors, and emotions into conceptions of how individuals function in daily life, and has potentially important implications for relationship functioning.  I argue that the functioning of intimate relationships consists essentially of directed action oriented toward central goals such as achieving intimacy and avoiding painful interpersonal conflict.  This analysis may guide us to a new understanding of emotions such as passion, excitement, depression, anxiety, distress, contentment, and serenity as they are experienced in relationships, and have them linked as a function of behavioral processes directed towards central relationship-related goals.

I have also recently begun conducting basic relationship research using ethnic minority samples.  For example, I have a forthcoming paper on the putative differences in relationship functioning between intraracial and interracial romantic couples.  Based on the assumption that the dearth of relationship research with ethnic minority populations come partly from the lack of culturally validated instruments, I am also examining the convergent validity of a well-used marital satisfaction inventory.

My applied work in close relationships has consisted mainly of involvement in the evaluation of interventions (i.e., PREP: Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program) aimed at preventing marital distress.  This work has been part of a community-based intervention project in collaboration with a group from the University of Denver (Drs. Howard Markman and Scott Stanley). In the future, I plan to use findings from my own basic relationship research to attempt to inform and shape future marital distress prevention programs.

Applied methodological and quantitative interests  

In addition to the work described above, I have also developed knowledge and interest in using diary methods (i.e., experience sampling, social interaction records, electronic daily diaries).  I am also interested in the application of multilevel data analytic techniques (i.e., HLM; Hierarchical Linear Modeling) to dyadic and longitudinal data. I have also become involved in exploring the use of modern methods for the analysis of change are important tools for elucidating change processes in psychological interventions with Dr. Adele Hayes at the University of Delaware. Most recently, I have turned toward the application of dynamical systems modeling (i.e., analysis of self-regulating systems) to dyadic interpersonal processes in collaboration with Dr. Steve Boker at University of Notre Dame. If one conceptualizes individuals as dynamic systems, I am particularly interested in analyzing the inherent interdependencies between married partners as dynamical coupled systems. An empirical submission on this topic is currently in preparation.

Recent Publications

Laurenceau, J-P., & Kleinman, B. (in press).  Intimacy in personal relationships. Chapter to appear in D. Perlman and A. Vangelisti (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of personal relationships. Cambridge University Press.

Boker, S. M., & Laurenceau, J-P. (in press). Dynamical systems modeling: An application to the regulation of the intimacy and disclosure in marriage. In T. A. Walls & J. L. Schafer (Eds.), Models for intensive longitudinal data. New York: Oxford University Press.

Laurenceau, J-P., Hayes, A. M., & Feldman, G. C. (in press). Some methodological and statistical issues in the study of change processes in psychotherapy.  Invited paper for special issue of Clinical Psychology Review: Innovations in psychotherapy process research (Co-Editors: D. Hope and A. M. Hayes).

Laurenceau, J-P., Feldman Barrett, L., & Rovine, M. J. (2005). The interpersonal process model of intimacy in marriage: A daily–diary and multilevel modeling approach. Journal of Family Psychology 19, 314-323.

Laurenceau, J-P., Troy, A. B., & Carver, C. S. (2005).  Two distinct emotional experiences in romantic relationships: Effects of perceptions regarding approach of intimacy and avoidance of conflict. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 31, 1123-1133.

Laurenceau, J-P., & Bolger, N. (2005). Using diary methods to study marital and family processes. Special Issue on Methodology in Family Science: Journal of Family Psychology, 19, 86-97.

Representative Publications

Laurenceau, J-P., Stanley, S. M., Olmos-Gallo, A., Baucom, B., & Markman, H. J. (2004).  Community-based prevention of marital dysfunction: Multilevel modeling of a randomized effectiveness study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 933-943.

Laurenceau, J-P., Rivera, L. M., Schaffer, A., & Pietromonaco, P. R. (2004).  Intimacy as an interpersonal process: Current status and future directions (p. 61-78). In D. Mashek & A. Aron (Eds.), Handbook of closeness and intimacy. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Pietromonaco, P. R., Laurenceau, J-P., & Feldman Barrett, L. (2002).  Change in relationship knowledge representations (p. 5-34).  In A. L. Vangelisti, H. T. Reis, and M. A. Fitzpatrick (Eds.), Stability and change in relationships.  New York: Cambridge University Press.

Laurenceau, J-P., Feldman Barrett, L. A., & Pietromonaco, P. R. (1998).  Intimacy as an interpersonal process: The importance of self-disclosure and perceived partner responsiveness in interpersonal exchanges.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1238-1251.

Clements, M. L., Cordova, A., Markman, H. J., & Laurenceau, J-P.  (1997).  The erosion of satisfaction over time and how to prevent it (pp. 335-355).  In R. J. Sternberg & M. Hojjat (Eds.), Satisfaction in close relationships.  New York: Guilford.

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